CDC: U.S. influenza activity low

ATLANTA, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Influenza activity is at low levels in the United States early in the flu season, federal health officials say.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control said the influenza season will last through the winter and spring, so there is still time to get an influenza vaccination -- recommended for all individuals age 6 months and older.

A report, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, said for the week of Oct. 2 to Nov. 26, six cases of human infection with a novel influenza A virus were reported -- two from Maine and one from Indiana in October, as well as three from Iowa in November.

"All six patients were infected with novel influenza A (H3N2) viruses with genes from swine, human and avian lineages. The two cases in Maine occurred in children, and the case in Indiana occurred in an adult male; all patients had exposure to swine in the period immediately preceding their illness," the report said. "All three cases in Iowa occurred in children with no known recent exposure to swine. The investigation in Iowa revealed evidence of limited human-to human transmission. All patients recovered fully."

For the week ending Nov. 26, the geographic spread of influenza was reported as local by one state -- Massachusetts -- while sporadic influenza activity was reported by the District of Columbia, Guam and 28 states. The U.S. Virgin Islands and 21 states reported no influenza activity and Puerto Rico did not report.